ARL Kaleidoscope Site Visit 2026
Hosted by the University of Calgary between July 11 – July 15, 2026.
The ARL Kaleidoscope Program is a two-year commitment that aims to prepare BIPOC graduate students for purposeful and consequential careers in research libraries and archives through enriched leadership development and community-building opportunities.
As part of this national program, the 2026 Kaleidoscope Program site visit will be hosted by the University of Calgary. This site visit explores the research library and archive environment, professional roles, and activities within the host ARL member institution—offering scholars an in-depth look at the University of Calgary’s libraries, archives, and special collections, as well as opportunities to engage with local leadership and professional networks in Calgary.
Kaleidoscope scholars receive financial support for tuition and professional development, mentoring, access to educational experiences, and signature events. Through the Kaleidoscope Program, ARL acknowledges systemic inequities in the field and recognizes the imperative to pursue and advance inclusive and just research information environments.
The Kaleidoscope Program aims to:
- Create a scholars-centred community of BIPOC leaders in research libraries & archives
- Support the persistence of scholars in memory & information graduate programs
- Facilitate connections between scholars and emerging and established leaders in research libraries & archives
- Prepare scholars to navigate post-degree professional settings
- Provoke critical inquiry and action toward just and equitable research information environments
ARL member institutions fund the Kaleidoscope Program. It was established in 2000 as the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW) and was renamed Kaleidoscope in 2019.
The Kaleidoscope Program Task Force and the Kaleidoscope Program Selection Working Group support the Kaleidoscope Program.
For more information about the 2026 site visit at the University of Calgary, please get in touch with the university’s hosting team or visit the Association of Research Libraries website.
Land Acknowledgement
The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation within Alberta (including Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6).
The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”
Goals
The ARL Kaleidoscope Scholars program at the University of Calgary aims to contribute to the fulfillment of the ARL Kaleidoscope Program’s broader goals, specifically by:
- Creating a scholars-centered community of BIPOC leaders in research libraries and archives;
- Facilitating connections between scholars and emerging and established leaders in research libraries and archives;
- Preparing scholars to navigate post-degree professional settings;
- Provoking critical inquiry and action toward more just and equitable research information environments.
Vision
The University of Calgary Libraries and Cultural Resources’ vision for the 2026 ARL Kaleidoscope site visit is to warmly welcome scholars into our community. We offer a window into our approaches to inclusion in information systems, knowledge systems, library services, and support for learners, scholars, and community engagement—rooted in this land and region, including our commitments to decolonization, Indigenous initiatives, and reciprocal community relationships in southern Alberta.
Credits
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Association of Research Libraries
